Latch



(NoModel.) -ssh H. M. WHITCOMB.\

LATGH.

tented May 11, 1897.

.......H.M.W.......H...M...M......Nwwwn UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

HARRIS MORGAN VVHITOOMB, OF MONROE, VISOONSIN.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,565, dated May 11,1897.

Application ined Allyn 10, 1896.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HARRIS MORGAN WHIT- COMB, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Monroe, in the county of Green and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Barn-Door Latch, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is particularly adapted for use on heavy and thick doors,such as those of barns and other outbuildings, although capable of awider application. The construction and arrangement of parts are ashereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, two sheets, Figure l is a face or sideview of a portion of a door and door-casin g to which my improvement isshown attached. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the latch, showing the inner side. Fig. 4. is a perspectiveview of the latch proper and one of the handles for operating it. Fig.5, Sheet 2, is a perspective view of the latchcase and one of thelatch-handles. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the latch-handlesand the slotted washer. Figs. 7 and 8 are end views of the latch,showing a detail.

The main parts of the latch are a metal case A, the sliding latch-boltor latch proper, B E,

the spindle H, the bow handles C O', slotted washer I, and catches J JThe case A is oblong and provided with lateral flanges havingcountersunk holes to provide for its attachment to a door on the innerside by means of screws. It has a central lengthwise slot d, Fig. 5, toadapt it for detachable connection of one of vthe handles that operatethe latch-bolt.

A slotted Washer I, Figs. 2 and 6,-is secured to the outer side of thedoor in coincident arrangement with the case. The slot z' in the samecorresponds to the slot a in case A.

The bolt or latch proper, Figs. 3 and 4, has an enlarged central slottedportion, and one end E is cylindrical and surrounded by a helical springL, while the other end, B, is square in cross-section and beveled at itsextremity on opposite sides to adapt it to engage abeveled catch J onthe door-jamb and a similar catch J on the casing or wall for thepurpose of holding the door open or closed,as required.

As shown in Fig. 6, one of the bow handles (marked O) is rigidlyconnected with the Serial No. 587,239. (No model.)

rectangular spindle H, which has an enlarged base portion 7L and acircumferential groove 7L between said shoulder and the handle O. Theother bow handle, O, has a hub F, provided with a square mortise-openingto receive the spindle H and with lateral arms or lugs K, that engageand operate the latch-bolt.

Vhen the parts of the latch are put together and applied to a door, thecase A and washer I are secured, respectively, to the inner and outersides of the door X, as shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 2. Insuch case the spindle H passes through the oblong slot 1'. of washer Iand the passage G in hub F of handle C. It will be seen that the lugs orarms K of handle C will pass through the slot d in case A when thehandle is turned crosswise of the latter, and that said lugs preventdetachment of the handle from the case when the handle is alined withit, since the said lugs K then extend across the slot a, as shown inFig. 8. The handle C is attaehed to the washer I in the same way, sincethe laterally-extended shoulders lt at the base of the spindle H projectover the side edges of such slot.

As shown in Fig. 2, the handles O and O are normally alined with thecase A and washer l when the bolt B is engaged with the catch J. Thebolt may be disengaged from the latter by seizing either handle O or Cand turning it, which causes lugs K to act on the bolt B E and slide itback in case A against the tension of the spring L. The door X may thenbe swung open, and the latch-bolt will automatically engage the catch Jthereby locking the door open, as shown by dotted lines in theright-hand portion of Fig. 2. It is apparent that the door may beunlatched, closed, and relocked by reversing this operation.

The case A is shown provided with lugs or ears a', Fig. 7, at one end,and by bending these lugs inward, as shown in Fig. 8, they serve toconfine the cylindrical end E of the latch-bolt in the case. y

The catches J and J are provided with slots to adapt them for adjustmenttoward or from the door to compensate for possible shrinkage. The eyesof the slots are notched or jagged to aiord secure engagement with thescrews.

IOO

The case A and washer I are shown provided with transverse ribs a2 and tat each end adjacent to the ends of the respective handles C C, whichribs serve as guards to prevent harness, clothing, &c., catching nnderthe handle.

It will be seen the latch is adapted to doors of different thickness,since the spindle II may be adjusted through the inortise G in hub ofhandle C; also, that the latch may be attached to a door by simplyboring the saine and applying the screws for securing the case A andWasher I.

l. The improved door-latch composed ofthe latch-bolt and spring, thecasing having a lengthwise slot, a Washer I, having a correspondingslot, both casing and Washer being adapted to bc secured coincidently toopposite sides of a door, and the polygonal spindle II, having a handleC', lateral enlargements 71, and a groove 7L' adjacent to said handle,and the correspondinghandle C, having a hub with lateral arms K,arranged at right angles to the handle, whereby the respective handleportions may be detachably and independently engaged with the casing andWasher irrespective of the thickness of the door, as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the handle having a ilat oblong base, and theexterior curved or bow portion7 with the flat part with which suchhandle-base Works in contact, the same having the ribs z" at its endsand said ribs being arranged close to the ends of the handle, when thelatteris in normal position, as shown and described for the purposespecified.

HARRIS MORGAN IVIIITCOMIE.

Vitnesses:

R. C. SPENCER,

J. MORGAN.

